Self-service store construction



Oct. 17, 1939.

L. w. VARNEY 2,176,384

SELF-SERVICE STORE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvs/vrol? LLOYD 14/. VARNEV A TTORNEKS.

\ Oct. 17, 1939. w VARNEY 2,176,384

SELF-SERVICE STORE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VENTOR LLOYD 14 MARNEY HARRIS/V5614, FOSTER :3 HARRIS and ug A 7TORNE Y6.

Oct. 17, 1939. w V 2,176,384

SELF-SERVICE STORE CONSTRUCTION F iled May 10, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet s YHARR/J, K/ECH, F057 HARE/5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEW-SERVICE STORE CONSTRUCTION Lloyd W. Varney, Los Angelou, Calif.

Application May 10, 1937, Serial No. 141,650

15 Claims.

My invention relates to methods of and means for commodity distribution, referring especially to package goods, and is directed particularly to an improved layout and system of distribution for retail establishments, including novel means for dispensing packages to customers. Since the principles of my invention are peculiarly applicable to a grocery store, I shall, by way of illustration, confine my disclosure to such an establishment, but those skilled in the art will understand that various features of my invention may be embodied in systems and constructions remote from a grocery store.

To reduce costs and to expedite sales, most modern grocery stores have arrangements for customers to serve themselves from commoditystorage means, such as shelves, counters, and tables, the duties of the employees being reduced to replenishing goods on display and to transacting sales at the store exit.

The general object of my invention is to increase the efliciency of such commodity-storage means for storing and displaying goods accessible to customers, with a view to saving labor, saving space, making goods more accessible to customers, and increasing the attractiveness of display.

With respect to saving labor, more specific objects of my invention are: to provide storage facilities of exceptional capacity for commodities accessible to purchasers, preferably of sufiicient capacity to require replenishment not more than once a day; to provide replenishment zones sep arate and apart from dispensing zones whereby replenishing-activities will not interfere with nor inconvenience customers; and to provide convenient storage in the replenishment zones for additional goods in reserve, especially fractions of cases left over from replenishment oi. the sales storage.

Referring to the conservation of space, I have the specific objects of: providing accessible commodity storage means of exceptional depth, thereby reducing the frontage of the storage means required per unit volume of commodities stored; and providing for storage facilities of exceptional height, thereby further reducing the frontage required. Since the lineal extent of customersaisles necessary depends upon the frontage required per unit volume of goods in storage, I am enabled by these twoprovisions to reduce the ratio between aisle floor-space and storage floorspace for the store as a whole.

For the sake of customer convenience, my specific objects are, first, to reduce the number of steps required for a customer to traverse a storage means of a given volume, second, to eliminate the necessity for customers to reach back into the storage space, and, third, to make each article readily accessible to customers, the first object being attained by reducing the extent of the aisles required, as previously mentioned, the second ob- -iect being attained by providing automatic movement towards dispensing zones of goods in the commodity storage means as the supply of goods therein diminishes, the third object being realized by providing a dispensing means on the dispensing side of the storage means to present individual articles in position oi. maximum convenience for customers.

For attractiveness of display in the interest of increasing sales, my specific objects are to eliminate the appearance of empty or partly empty shelves, to avoid displaying goods back on shelves away from the aisle, and to provide advertising prominence for individual articles. These objects are attained by providing for movement of goods towards'the aisle, as previously mentioned, and by employing a dispensing means extending into the aisle and adapted to expose individual articles to prominent view.

As for the construction of the storage means, my general object is to achieve simplicity with flexibility and adaptability. More specifically, my objects are to provide a plurality of storage units, including the dispensing means, that may be freely rearranged and shifted, and to make the individual units conveniently adjustable to the requirements of particular packages, thereby reducing the variety of units required. In the preferred embodiment of my invention only three types of units may be required to serve my purpose: an adjustable unit for elongated packages, both boxes and cans, a simple unit for dispensing flat packages at elevated levels, and an extremely simple unit for dispensing articles near the floor. With reference particularly to the units employed in the storage means, one of my objects is to provide gravity feed means and, cooperating therewith, a dispensing means that is positive in action and is adaptable to the weight and dimensions of various articles.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent in the detailed description to follow taken with my accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a typical plan of a grocery store layout, as taught by my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken as indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a dispensing end of a storage or magazine unit with the commodity packages omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a vertical medial section of Fig. 3, with the commodity packages included;

Fig. 4a is a section taken on the line 40-40 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the commodity packages being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the broken line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the dispensing mechanism in another position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of adjustable guide rails employed in one of my storage units;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the dispensing end of one of the storage units adapted to the requirements of rectangular packages;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section of a group of storage units taken as indicated by the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a storage or magazine unit for fiat articles;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation partly in section of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation partly in section of a third form of storage or magazine unit for dispensing articles at levels near the floor;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section of a group of storage units taken as indicated by the line I4-l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view indicating how a magazine unit may b onstructed in two separable sections; and

Fig. 16 is a, similar view showing the sections joined together.

Fig. 1 shows, by way of illustration, a typical layout for a grocery-store incorporating the principles of my invention. Provision is made in the usual manner for patrons to pass through turnstiles 20 to enter a. self-service section, generally designated by numeral 2|, and to file past checking counters 22 upon leaving the self-service section. In the arrangement shown, the selfservice section 2| contains a number of tables or gondolas 23 separated by aisles 24, the gondolas being stacked with the heavier and bulkier packages, such as sacks of flour and sacks of sugar.

Instead of the usual shelves around the borders of the self-service section, I provide a series of commodity storage means or commodity magazines 25 constructed in accordance with my invention, the series including, if desired, a refrigerated section 26. Since these magazines are adapted to receive commodity units from the rear and to move the commodity units forward towards the self-service section as fast as patrons remove commodity units, I am enabled to provide a replenishing zone back of the magazines represented by a replenishing aisle 21, the replenishing zone being separated by the magazine itself from the dispensing zone represented by a dispensing aisle 28 around the borders of the selfservice section 2|.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the floor 29 of the replenishing aisle 21 may be somewhat elevated and may be provided with a track 30 for a suitable truck 3|, the track branching into a warehouse section 32 of the store. Preferably, storage shelves 33 will extend alongside the replenishing aisle 21. Access to the warehouse section 32 of the store from the self-service section 21l may be provided for employees by a passageway represented by steps 34. The arrangement shown provides two corner spaces 36 adjoining the replenishing aisle 21. These spaces may be utilized for the storage of commodities or may be provided with work-tables 31 for such activities as the transferring of bulk goods into packages.

In the novel layout for a retail store shown in Fig. 1, any type of commodity magazine or storage means may be employed that will receive commodity units or packages from the rear and cause the units to move forward towards the selfservice section of the store. In the construction illustrated, however, the magazine provides a plurality of supporting surfaces at a plurality of levels, the supporting surfaces being inclined to cause commodities to gravitate forward towards the dispensing aisle 28. Preferably, these inclined supporting surfaces will be provided by a plurality of magazine units M supported by a suitable frame F. The frame F may be of angleiron construction including vertical members 38 5 and suitably disposed cross members 39.

Each end of a magazine 25 may be provided with an end wall 42, and, if desired, a display shelf 43 for advertising commodities, such as indicated at 43a, may be provided along the top 1 of the magazine, the shelf being supported by suitable horizontal members 44 in the frame F interconnecting vertical members 38, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the drawings, a vertical wall 45 may extend back of the shelf 43 and a vertical 3 wall section 46 may depend from the front edge of the shelf, this wall section 48 being a convenient support for signs directing patrons to the location of commodities inthe magazines.

In the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, I show, 3: by way of example, three types of commodity magazines incorporating the principles of my invention, each type having its own special advantages. The magazine units of the upper group 48 are adapted for dispensing relatively flat packages 41 of either circular or rectangular configuration, and may be employed at relatively high levels. The magazine units of group 49 dispense tall or elongated commodity units of cylindrical or rectangular configuration, and may also be em- 4 ployed at elevated positions. Magazine units of the lower group 50 may be employed to dispense any type of package, but are adapted to dispense articles at only relatively low levels.

Magazine units of the group 49 are constructed 50 as shown in Figs. 3 to 10, each magazine unit comprising a slide 5| and a dispensing unit D associated with the lower end of the slide, the magazine unit being inclined at a suitable angle, say, 23 degrees or more from horizontal. 55

The slide 5| may be made of any material that will provide a suitable surface down which a file of commodity units, such as cans and cartons, will gravitate freely. The slide 5| shown in the drawings is a strip of sheet metal, preferably 60 with longitudinal recesses 54 near its longitudinal edges.

Each slide is provided with guide means to retain the moving commodity units thereon, such guide means being, by preference, adjustable in width. Such means may be provided by guide rails 51 in the form of light metal rods mounted. on spaced pairs of supports 58. The two rail supports 58 of each pair extend under the slide 5| and are provided with screw-receiving slots 70 59 and pairs of cars 60 for mutual sliding engagement. Each pair of the rail supports 58 is adjustably assembled to the slide 5| by suitable screws 6l, each screw extending downward througha slot 62 in one of the recesses 54 of the 75 slide and being provided with a thumb-nut 63 for convenient manual adjustment.

In the particular form of commodity magazine being described, some means near the lower end o f the slide is desirable to prevent commodity units from tipping forward when abruptly stopped. For this purpose I may provide a guard 64 in the form of a band arched over the outside of the guard rails 51, and supporting means for the guard in the form of a pair of supporting members 65 similar in construction to rail supports 58. The pair of supporting members is adjustably mounted to the under side of the slide 5I by screws 66 and thumb-nuts 61, the screws engaging longitudinal slots 68 in the slide, as may be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. One end of the band 64 may be permanently secured to one of the supporting members 65 by a rivet 69, and, for adjustability, the other end of the band may have a longitudinal slot' 10 engaged by a screw H in the other supporting member 65. By virtue of this arrangement, the band 64 may be adjusted to any radius to accommodate cylindrical commodities of various diameters, as indicated by the dotted line in .Fig. 6, and a guard band 12 of angular'configura tion shown in Fig. 10 may be substituted to conform with commodity units of rectangular configuration.

Since each slide 5| rests upon the frame members 39 in an inclined position, some means is necessary for engagement with the frame to prevent gravitational movement of the slide itself. In the particular magazine unit being described, I find it convenient to employthe pairs of supporting members 58 and 85 for this purpose, asmay be understood by reference to the drawings.

The dispensing means D of the commodity magazines in group 49 includes a back-member or back-plate hingedly-mounted to the lower end of the slide 5i by means of a pintle 14. The back-plate is provided with an arcuate tongue 15 to serve as a stop for commodity units on the slide, this tongue having its center of curvature in the pintle 18 and being positioned to oscillate through a complementary opening 16 in the lower end of the slide 5!, the end of the tongue being provided with a pair of laterally extending lugs 11 positioned to engage the underside of the slide 5I to limit the downward movement of the backplate 13 to the vertical position indicated in Fig. 4. To limit the upward movement of the backplate 13 to a position in longitudinal alignment with the slide 5!, I form a pair of lugs 18 in the back-plate positioned to abut complementary lugs 19 of the slide.

I have found it desirable to incorporate a counterweight in the construction of the dispensing means. For this purpose I may rigidly mount a screw on areinforcement plate 82 at the rear of the back-plate 13, and provide a spherical counterweight 83 in threaded engagement with the screw 80, a lock-nut 84 being provided to hold the weight at any given adjustment.

The back-plate 13 carries a dispensing platform 85 in any adjustable manner. In the specific construction shown in Figs. 4, 4a, and 5, the platform 85 is formed with a pair of integral upturned flanges 81 and is attached to the backplate 13 by screws 88 passing through the flanges 81 and engaging a pair of longitudinal slots 89 in the back-plate, the screws carrying thumbnuts 90. Since it is desirable that the backplate 13 present no obstruction to sliding movement of commodity units when the back-plate is aligned with the slide 5I as shown in Fig. 7, I form marginal offsets 92 in the back-plate dimensioned. to receive the flanges 81, and I may also countersink the holes through the flanges 81 that receive the screws 88.

The outer edge of the dispensing platform 85 may be provided with an upturned flange 94 to prevent commodity units from sliding forward oh the platform. To provide adjustabillty in the disposition of such flange, I prefer to form the flange in a spearate plate 95 slidingly mounted to the under side of the platform 85. For this purpose, two slots 98 are provided in longitudinal recesses 91 of the dispensing platform 85, and corresponding slots 88 are provided in the plate 95. In sliding engagement with each slot 98 of the platform 85 is a rivet 99 extending upward from the plate 95, and in sliding engagement with both slots 96 and slots 98 are screws I00 having thumb-nuts II on the under side of the platform.

Fig. 4 shows a commodity unit in the form of a can I03 standing on end on the dispensing platform 85 and indicates a series or file of recumbent cans I03a, I031), etc. resting on the slide 5I and held against gravitational movement thereon by the stop 15, When a customer removes the can I03 from the dispensing platform,

the counterweight 83 immediately causes the dispensing means to rotate upward to bring the back-plate 13 into alignment with the slide 5|, as shown by full lines in Fig. 7 and to retract the stop 15 thereby releasing the file of cans on the slide. The following can I03a slides along the back-plate 13 into abutment with the platform 85. Since, in the position indicated byFig. 7, the center of gravity of the can I032) lies sufiiciently beyond the pintle 14 to overcome the counterweight 83, the dispensing means swings downward as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. '1 to bring the can I03?) into the upright position of Fig, 4. It will be noticed that in this swinging movement the arcuate path of the top of the can "1% is away from the leading end of can I03c, as indicated by arrows I04, and therefore does not act against the weight of the remaining cans on the slide 5|. As the platform swings forward and downward, the stop 15 moves upward in the opening 16 into a position to stop the remaining cans on the slide. of the can I030 against the stop 15 tends to tilt the can forward, such movement will be restrained by the guard 64.

It is apparent that the dispensing means D, as well as the slide 5|, is readily adaptable to commodity units of various dimensions, shapes, and weights. If the magazine unit is to be employed for flat packages I85 of rectangular configuration, as indicated in Fig. 9, a plate I06 having a straight flange I01 may be substituted for the previously described plate 95 having the arcuate flange 94.

Magazine units of the group 48 of Fig. 2 may be constructed as indicated by Figs. 11 and 12, the principal elements of each magazine unit being a slide H0 and a rigid dispensing platform II I. The slide H0 has the same construction, in general, as the slide 5I previously described, and

-in similar manner is provided with the guide If the impact allel slots H3, and the platform III has a similar 75 pair of slots IIl positioned to register therewith. Rivets IIi carried by theplatform III slidingly engage each of the slots II! and suitable screws various widths or diameters. Normally, one can no res on the dispensing platform m against some stop means such as a pair of vertical pins IIS. As soon as a customer removes the can II I -on the dispensing platform III, the file of cans on the slide IIO force a secondcan 8a onto the platform III against the stop H0.

The magazine units oi the lower group E0 of Fig. 2 may be constructed as indicated by Figs. 13 and '14. If these lower magazine units are to be employed for commodity units of cylindrical cross-sectional configuration, the mags.- zine units may be designed as troughs, thereby avoiding the necessity for the guide rails 0! previously described. Thus, if a slide I20 constituting one of the magazine units of this group is formed of sheet metal to provide longitudinal shoulders I2I, the magazine units may be employed equally well for cylindrical cans of various diameters, as may be understood by reference to Fig. 14. Each slide I20 has one or more metal strips I22 secured to its bottom for engagement with the cross members 39 of the frame F, and each of the slides I20 has an end wall I23 to serve as a stop for the commodity units on the slide. When a customer removes a lowermost can I24, the file of cans in the magazine unit slides forward to present the second can I2la. Since it is desirable that the magazine units of this construction be conveniently accessible from above, I prefer to extend the magazine units of the lower group 50 progressively so that each unit is unmasked by the unit above, as may be readily understood by referring to Fig. 2.

It is contemplated that the magazines 25 in the store will be of relatively great width to provide relatively great storage volume in proportion to the frontage on the dispensing aisle 28. For example, each magazine may be constructed to accommodate magazine units ten feet long or longer, as desired. Since it may be difficult to handle magazine units of such length when it is desired to remove or rearrange the units, I may make the magazine units in two or more separable sections, constructed, for example, as indicated by Figs. 15 and 16. In this construction the end I26 of one slide section I2! is adapted to overlap and rest upon the end I28 of a second slide section I29. The end I28 of the slide section I29 is cut away to provide a V-shaped recess I30 that is complementary to a triangular block I3I fixed on the bottom of the slide section I21. When the two sections are moved together into assembled relationship as indicated in Fig. 16, the block I3| engages the recess I30 to guide the two sections into proper longitudinal alignment. To insure free gravitational movement of commodity units past the juncture between the two sections of the'slide, the upper ends I32 of the guide rails 51 of the lower section I20 may be slightly flared laterally outward asindicated in Fig. 16.

The advantages of my invention are apparent from the drawings and the foregoing description. If desirable, replenishment activities may be carried on more or less continuously throughout the day out of sight of patrons in the selfservice section of the store. 7 The commodity magazines are readily adaptable to changes in store layout or changes in the demands of various classes of commodities, since the magazine units may be readily shifted and rearranged. When an unusual temporary demand for any one commodity is anticipated, either an increased number of magazine units may be provided for the commodity, or shelves 13 back of the magazines may be stored beforehand with stock for convenient replenishment as required.

The specific, forms of my invention set forth herein for the purpose of disclosure and to illustrate the principles involved suggest a wide range of change and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I reserve the right to all such changes and modifications that properly come within the scope of my appended claims. C

I claim as my invention:

1. Means for storing and dispensing commodities in a self-service store, said means comprising: a slide adapted to receive a file of packages, said slide being inclined to cause gravitational movement of said file; a dispensing means pivoted to/the lower end of said slide adapted to rotate from a receiving position to a dispensing position under the weight of a package to be dispensed; and a counterbalance on said dispensing means adapted to move the dispensing means to the receiving position when the dispensing means is empty.

2. Meansfor storing and dispensing commodities in a self-service store, said means comprising: a slide adapted to receive a file of packages, said slide being inclined to cause gravitational movement of said file; a dispensing means pivoted to the lower end of said slide adapted to rotate from a receiving position to a dispensing position under the weight of a package to be dispensed; a counterbalance on said dispensing means adapted to move the dispensing means to the receiving position when the dispensing means is empty; and a stop at the lower end of the slide operatively connected to said-dispensing means, said stop being adapted to releasably restrain said file when a package is in the dispensing means.

3. A commodity magazine having: an inclined slide adapted to hold a file of commodity units; and a dispensing means pivoted to the lower end of the slide for oscillation between an upper posi tion aligned to receive a commodity unit from the slide, and a lower position to present said commodity unit for manual removal, said dispensing means having its weight distributed relative to its pivotal axis to cause it to gravitate to its upper position automatically when empty and to gravitate to its lower position when carrying a commodity unit.

4. A commodity magazine having: an inclined slide adapted to hold a file of commodity units; a dispensing means pivoted to the lower end of the slide for oscillation between an upper position aligned to receive a commodity unit from the slide and a lower position to present said commodity unit for manual removal, said dispensing means having its weight distributed relative to its pivotal axis to cause it to gravitate to its upper position automatically when empty and to gravitate to its lower position when carrying a commodity unit; and means operatively connected with said dispensing means to restrain commodity units on said slide when. said dispensing means is in its lower position.

5. A commodity magazine having: an inclined slide adapted to hold a file of commodity units;

a dispensing means pivotally mounted at the lower end of the slide to oscillate between an upper position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from the slide and a lower position to present said commodity unit for manual removal, said dispensing means having its pivotal axis disposed to cause gravitation of the dispenspreventing'the opposite movement when the dispensing means containsa commodity unit.

6. A commodity magazine having: an inclined slide adapted to hold a file of commodity units; a dispensing means pivotally mounted at the lower end of the slide to oscillate between an upper position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from the slide, and a lower position presenting said commodity unit for manual removal, said dispensing means having its pivotal axis disposed to cause gravitation of the dispensing means from its upper position to its lower position under the weight of a commodity unit; a counterweight mounted on said dispensing means at a position to cause the dispensing means to movefrom its lower position to its upper position when empty, without preventing the opposite movement when the dispensing means contains a commodity unit, said counterweight being adjustable in position relative to the dispensing means; and latch means at the bottom of the slide operated by said dispensing means and adapted to prevent movement of a commodity unit from said slide when the dispensing means is in its lower position.

7. In apparatus of theclass described, the combination with an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity-units of a unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said unit-dispenser comprising: a back member pivoted to swing between an inclined position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from said magazine and a second position to present said unit for manual removal; a bottom member extending from said back member to receive the leading end of a recumbent commodity unit and to support the commodity unit on said end at said second position of the unit-dispenser, said bottom member being of greater extent than the corresponding dimension of said leading end of the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from.moving off said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axis of said backmember being disposed to cause the unit-dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; and means to return the unit-dispenser to its first position when a commodity unit is removed therefrom.

8. In apparatus oi the class described, the combination with an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity units of a unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said unit-dispenser comprising: aback member pivoted to swing between an inclined position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from said magazine and a second position to present said unit for manual removal; a bottom member extending from said back member to receive the leading end or a recumbent commodity unit and to support the commodity unit on said end at said second position of the unit-dispenser, said bottom member being of greater extent than the corresponding dimension of said leading end of the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from moving ofl said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axis of said back member being disposed to cause the unit dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; means to return the unit dispenser to its first position when a commodity unit is removed therefrom; and means at the lower end of the magazine operatively connected to said unit-dispenser to prevent commodity units from moving toward the unit-dispenser when the unit-dispenser is in said second position.

9. In apparatus 0! the class described, the combination with an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity units of a unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said unit-dispenser comprising: a back member-pivoted to swing between an inclined position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from said magazine and a second position to present said unit for manual removal, said back member being substantially shorter than one of said commodity units; a bottom member extending from said back member to receive the leading end of a recumbent commodity unit and to support the commodity unit on said end at said second position of the unit-dispenser, said bottom member being of greater extent than the corresponding dimension of said leading end of the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from moving ofi said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axis of said back member being disposed to cause the unit-dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; and means to return the unit-dispenser to its first position when a commodity unit is removed therefrom.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity units of a' unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said unitdispenser comprising: a back member pivoted to swing between an inclined positionidisposed for the reception of a commodity unit from said magazine and a second position to present said unit for manual removal, said back member being substantially shorter than one of said commodity units; a bottom member extending from said back member to receive the leading end of a recumbent commodity unit and to support the commodity unit on said end at said second position of the unit-dispenser, said bottom member being of greater extent than the corresponding dimension of said leading end of the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from moving off said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axis of said back member being disposed to cause the unit-dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; means to return the unit-dispenser to its first position when a commodity unit is removed therefrom; and a latch at the lower endof said magazine adapted to engage thelowermost commodity unit in the magazine when the unit-dispenser is in said second position, the distance between the point of engagement of said latch and said bottom member of the unit-dispenser whenthe unitdispenser is in its first position beingjlsubstam tially less than the length of one of sfaid commodity units.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an inclined magazine for star-- ing a file of recumbent commodity units of a unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said corresponding dimension oi. said leading end of l the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from moving 01! said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axisoi' said back member being disposed to cause the unit-dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; and a weight mounted on said dispenser, said weight being of a mass and disposition to return the dispenser to said first position when empty.

12. In apparatus ot-the class described, the combination with an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity units of a unit-dispenser at the lower end thereof, said unit-dispenser comprising: a back member pivoted to swing between an inclined'position disposed for the reception of a commodity unit from said magazine and a second position to present said unit for manual removal; 9. bottom member extending from said back member to receive the leading end of a recumbent commodity unit and to support the commodity unit on said end at said second position of the unit-dispenser, said bottom member being of greater extent than the corresponding dimension of said. leading end oi. the commodity unit; means at the outer edge of said bottom member to keep the commodity unit from moving off said bottom member when the unit-dispenser moves to said second position, the pivotal axis of said back member being disposed to cause the unit-dispenser to swing to said second position when weighted with a commodity unit; a weight adjustably carried by said unit-dispenser to return the dispenser to said first position when empty; and a latch at the lower end of said magazine operated by said unitdispenser and adapted to restrain movement of the commodity units in the magazine when said unit-dispenser is at its second position.

13. In apparatus 01' the character described, the combination of: an inclined magazine for storing a file of recumbent commodity units; a unit-dispenser pivoted to the lower end of said magazine to swing under the weight of a commodity unit from a position for receiving a commodity unit in recumbent disposition to sfposition to present said commodity unit in substanv slide and adapted to move between a receiving 20 position to receive a commodity unit 'irom' the slide and a dispensing position to present the commodity unit to patrons; means mounted on the back member to stop a commodity unit on the back member when the back member'is in the receiving position and to support the commodity unit when the back member is in the dispensing position; and a counterbalancing means operatively connected with the back member to move it to the receiving position, said stop means being positioned relative to said back member to permit a commodity unit on the back member to overcome the counterbalance when the back member is in said receiving position.

15. Means for storing and dispensing commodities in a self-service store, said means comprising: a slide adapted to receive a file of commodity units, said slide being inclined to cause gravitational movement of said file; a back member hingedly mounted on the lower end of the slide and adapted to move between a receiving position to receive acommodity unit from the slide and a dispensing position to present the commodity unit to patrons; means mounted on the back member to stop a commodity unit on the back member when the back member is in the receiving position and to support the com modity unit when the back member is in the dispensing position; a counterbalancing means operatively connected with the back member to move it to the receiving position, said stop means being positioned relative to said back member to permit a commodity unit on the back member to overcome the counterbalance when the back member is in said receiving position; and means carried by the back member to releasably restrain said file of commodity units when the back member is in the dispensing position.

LLOYD w. VARNEY. m 

